Emmet is a ghost town in the rural locality of Isisford in the Longreach Region of Queensland, Australia. As of 2023, the town had a population of two people.
Location
Emmet is located approximately 50.6 km (31.4 mi) south of Isisford, 167 km (104 mi) south of Longreach, 723 km (449 mi) west-southwest of Rockhampton, and 1,074 km (667 mi) west-northwest of Brisbane. Its coordinates are 24°40′17″S 144°28′35″E. The town falls within the state electorate of Gregory and the federal division of Maranoa, and uses the postcode 4730.
History
Emmet was once a prosperous town built around the Emmet railway station, which was part of the Blackall and Yaraka Branch railway. The railway line running from Blackall to Yaraka made Emmet the main depot for neighbouring properties to pick up their supplies, stores, and mail. At its peak, the town had a population of approximately 30 residents and functioned as a fully operational town with a railway station and a number of residential houses.
Present Day
Today, Emmet is considered a ghost town. The site contains a picnic shelter and a small museum housed in the former railway station building. Its relative proximity to Idalia National Park makes it a popular stopping-off point for tourists. The revamped railway station features an interesting historical display, and the town serves as the western gateway to Idalia National Park, where dry mulga scrub and rocky escarpments are home to wildlife such as the yellow-footed rock wallaby.
